Training Hours: How do you allocate?

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Administrator

I see a lot of people talk about how much they "practice", but often I wonder if people are missing some important allocations to their schedule, so I would love to get some idea how much time people spend on the following:

1. Aerobic activity (non-dancing) such as running, swimming, or aerobics classes
2. Stretching
3. Weight training to improve core strength or muscle tone.
4. Studying the syllabus including reviewing a book or a video
5. Costume preparation and grooming including tanning and makeup
6. Mental training (e.g. sports psychology, an often overlooked but important part of training)
7. Taking Private Lessons
8. Taking Group Lessons
9. Practicing alone or with the partner
10. Teaching
11. Competing or Performing

Obviously, dancers will have different goals, and a teacher, competitor, and student would all use their time differently. So which of the above do you spend time on each week?

For me, I would say in order currently from most to least it is something like this:
9, 10, 7, 2, 1, 3, 6, 11, 4, 3, 8

New Member

i am currently in a school where i do half a day of school and half a day of dance.
so im dancing 24 hours a week with just my sports training which only includes ballet,contemporary,muscle training,stretching and jazz
as for ballroom which would be what im focusing on, im at my studio 3 times a week (not as much as id want to be there however ) and im training there 8 hours a week. i take 6 private lessons and a couple of group classes a week.

so i pretty much cover all those aspects in the hours that i train a week.
its a neat system for me, considering i dislike school but love dance

Site Moderator

we do have some similar threads...but what the heck...I don't think I could order these as you have b/c they vary from week to week, but on average I;

* workout about 9 hours a week(varying btwn cardio, toning and core)

*take 8 privates a week

*currently no groups but probably will change to 2-4 a month soon and then parties about 3x a month

*I tan about 3-4 times a week for about a month prior to a comp

*I spot re-stone, wash and mend each of my costumes immediately after every comp and re-stock my make-up kit... also will highlight my hair and get a manicure and pedicure the week week before each comp

*I read, knit and sing to get centered for comps and have periodically read and incorporated various psych training concepts into my practice

*I practice about 8 hours a week

*I don't have the syllabi...that is on my to-do list

*I will probably do 7-10 comps this year with number of heats being btwn 50 at the min and 100 at the max for each comp

New Member

we do have some similar threads...but what the heck...I don't think I could order these as you have b/c they vary from week to week, but on average I;

* workout about 9 hours a week(varying btwn cardio, toning and core)

*take 8 privates a week

*currently no groups but probably will change to 2-4 a month soon and then parties about 3x a month

*I tan about 3-4 times a week for about a month prior to a comp

*I spot re-stone, wash and mend each of my costumes immediately after every comp and re-stock my make-up kit... also will highlight my hair and get a manicure and pedicure the week week before each comp

*I read, knit and sing to get centered for comps and have periodically read and incorporated various psych training concepts into my practice

*I practice about 8 hours a week

*I don't have the syllabi...that is on my to-do list

*I will probably do 7-10 comps this year with number of heats being btwn 50 at the min and 100 at the max for each comp

New Member

I spend most of my time in group classes. I have so many dances that I'm learning that the only way to keep up with them is to take as many group classes as I can.

Private lessons are 2-3 times a week. Maybe more if I'm getting ready to a comp.

Several of the group classes are stretch classes, but I'm really bad about not doing enough core strengthening exercises.

I need to spend more time on hair and makeup, but I'm not really sure how to go about that. I watch vids on youtube, but without things like hairdryers/curlers/chi there's not much you can do. Geuss that should be me New Years resolution...

New Member

Gosh. reading all that, we all definately need to win the Lottery, would make life less stressful

DP & I have all this ahead of us. We are meeting up with our Pro this week to plan our attack for our 1st comp in April. But financially I would not be able to have that many private lessons. So will have to come up with a strategy that will best suit our budget.

thankfully at our level we dont need costumes yet not sure what level that starts at. I am hoping to get all the information soo. I love to be prepared makes things much less stressful

Administrator

Gosh. reading all that, we all definately need to win the Lottery, would make life less stressful

DP & I have all this ahead of us. We are meeting up with our Pro this week to plan our attack for our 1st comp in April. But financially I would not be able to have that many private lessons. So will have to come up with a strategy that will best suit our budget.

thankfully at our level we dont need costumes yet not sure what level that starts at. I am hoping to get all the information soo. I love to be prepared makes things much less stressful

I have danced in your shoes! I just recommend thinking about all the things you can do that move you in the right direction including:
Eating right, exercising, stretching, visualizing, practicing on your own, and learning all you can
The more you get good at moving toward the goal, the more you will find that is possible. I've seen this happen to people over and over. Don't give up, and best wishes for your first competition. I hope will be the first of many great experiences to come.

Site Moderator

Gosh. reading all that, we all definately need to win the Lottery, would make life less stressful

DP & I have all this ahead of us. We are meeting up with our Pro this week to plan our attack for our 1st comp in April. But financially I would not be able to have that many private lessons. So will have to come up with a strategy that will best suit our budget.

thankfully at our level we dont need costumes yet not sure what level that starts at. I am hoping to get all the information soo. I love to be prepared makes things much less stressful

I agree with DM and I would add that that is one thing that one has to be aware of when reading the forum...while it is a wonderful help and tool providing lots of info...if, upon reading it you feel intimidated by a lack of resources comparitively speaking, it is really important to focus upon what you CAN do...all of us have certain limits and deficiencies, but the thing to do is focus upon your strenghts and advantages as well as ways to minimize your disadvantages...and then practice like crazy...good luck

Administrator

I agree with DM and I would add that that is one thing that one has to be aware of when reading the forum...while it is a wonderful help and tool providing lots of info...if, upon reading it you feel intimidated by a lack of resources comparitively speaking, it is really important to focus upon what you CAN do...all of us have certain limits and deficiencies, but the thing to do is focus upon your strenghts and advantages as well as ways to minimize your disadvantages...and then practice like crazy...good luck

There was a time when I...
1. Lived in the back of a dance studio
2. Made about $200 per week
3. Had a car worth about $300 and it was dented in the front where it looked like it was always smiling, and the turn signals didn't work, unless the break pedal was depressed.

One thing that I COULD do at that time was start a forum about dancing.
(actually I think I started it a little after that, but not much)

Site Moderator

I will similarly say that a few years back when I was dancing with my FP, our studio closed and we started dancing out of his living room...it was very very small...and I remind folks that I love smooth best...and I had very big goals...if I had focused upon my minimal access to a big floor I would have created an even bigger obstacle for myself...instead of dancing the routines we spent alot of time really understanding each pattern...now that I am with NP, he is a good distance away and a good deal more costly so I can't take as many lessons or avail myself of alot of things that go with that, but it has forced a practice habit that has become an asset...so, QPO, go get em

Well-Known Member

I see a lot of people talk about how much they "practice", but often I wonder if people are missing some important allocations to their schedule, so I would love to get some idea how much time people spend [...]

Obviously, dancers will have different goals, and a teacher, competitor, and student would all use their time differently. So which of the above do you spend time on each week?

Bumping an old one...and I'd bee interested to hear from those that weighed in in 2009 about how their habts have changed.

1. Aerobic activity (non-dancing) such as running, swimming, or aerobics classes: 1-1.5 hrs/wk (2-3 sessions)
2. Stretching: Roughly 1hr/wk (a little each day, and 2 deeper stretch sessions a week). And foam rolling, several times a week.
3. Weight training to improve core strength or muscle ton: 1 hr/wk (2 half-hour sessions)
4. Studying the syllabus including reviewing a book or a video: Rarely... but used to be frequent. Now I watch high level comp videos for styling, choreo ideas, etc. for an hour or two a week.
5. Costume preparation and grooming including tanning and makeup: I make my own costumes and jewlery, so averaging that out over the year along with hair and make-up trials, etc., I'm probably two hours a week.
6. Mental training (e.g. sports psychology, an often overlooked but important part of training): About an hour a week, if I include mental rounds. I use this more heavily on weeks where I'm not feeling well and can't put in the physical hours, and some weeks I don't do it at all.
7. Taking Private Lessons: 2 hrs/wk
8. Taking Group Lessons: None. Well, one in ballet, but none in balloom.
9. Practicing alone or with the partner: 10-12 hours a week (Roughly 8-10 standard, 2-3 latin). All solo.
10. Teaching: None.
11. Competing or Performing: Rarely. 3-4 comps year, and 2 or so performances.

Well-Known Member

Oooo, fun topic!
1. Aerobic activity, stretching, weights - I do circuit training and boxing, so it all blends together. 3-5 hrs/week
4. Studying the syllabus including reviewing a book or a video - eh, maybe a half-hour a week at most.
5. Costume preparation and grooming including tanning and makeup - i do makeup on the side, so that's when i practice that. otherwise, maybe like a few hours a month?
6. Mental training (e.g. sports psychology, an often overlooked but important part of training) - maybe an hour a week at most.
7. Taking Private Lessons - 1-2 lessons a week
8. Taking Group Lessons - 2-3 groups classes a week
9. Practicing alone or with the partner - 6-10 hours a week
10. Teaching - 0
11. Competing or Performing - 4 a year, just a few heats.

It doesn't seem like a lot, really, but i have two young kids and a full time job, so i do what i can! dancing makes my heart sing, so i do it as much as i can!

Well-Known Member

1. Aerobic activity (non-dancing) such as running, swimming, or aerobics classes 3-5 hours per week
2. Stretching 30 minutes per day
3. Weight training to improve core strength or muscle tone. 30 minutes most days
4. Studying the syllabus including reviewing a book or a video 30 minutes a day? Syllabus study is part of my practice routine.
5. Costume preparation and grooming including tanning and makeup mostly crammed into the week before a comp or show. Hard to say.
6. Mental training (e.g. sports psychology, an often overlooked but important part of training) Visualization, sports psychology books... 30 minutes a day?
7. Taking Private Lessons 7 hours per week
8. Taking Group Lessons 3-4 hours per week
9. Practicing alone or with the partner 5-6 hours per week with am partner, 1-2 hours per day solo
10. Teaching 0
11. Competing or Performing 2 studio showcases per year, with both am partner and pro. Recently took a 10 month break from competing, but have averaged 3 ProAm comps per year. Am partner and I have only competed once, but are hoping to increase that to 3-4 times per year.

Hmm... Some of these are not what I'd like, but with three school-aged kids, it's what I can manage right now.